A fresh ‘Forward Look’ press release from the Council of the European Union reveals that at least six informal ministerial meetings will take place in Cyprus between 2 and 15 February as part of the island’s rotating presidency. The line-up includes competitiveness, environment, employment and leaders’ retreats—events that will bring thousands of delegates, support staff and media to Nicosia and Limassol.
The General Secretariat has published media-accreditation instructions and an indicative calendar running to June 2026, giving travel managers an early view of peak demand periods for accommodation, ground transport and venue security. For non-EU journalists and contractors, the release confirms that short-stay visas will be processed under existing Cypriot rules until the country formally joins Schengen, meaning separate 90-day counters still apply.
To simplify those visa formalities, organisers can lean on VisaHQ’s digital platform, which offers real-time requirement checks, document pre-screening and concierge handling for Cyprus visa applications—all on a single dashboard. The service speeds up approvals for media crews, exhibitors and support staff alike; more information is available at https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/
![Council of the EU ‘Forward Look’ lists dozen informal ministerial meetings in Cyprus, accreditation opens]()
Local authorities are coordinating with Hermes Airports to add temporary immigration booths and fast-track lanes for holder of EU Council badges. Mobility providers should expect sporadic road closures around the Filoxenia Conference Centre and newly designated motorcade routes to coastal hotels.
For multinational companies the meetings offer networking opportunities with regulators but also raise compliance tasks: staff attending side events must lodge ‘beneficial-owner’ disclosures with the presidency’s transparency register, and customs formalities apply to exhibition material arriving via the island’s two international ports.
Travel buyers are advised to lock in group allocations early; a similar presidency surge in 2012 saw Nicosia hotel prices jump 48 % over baseline.
The General Secretariat has published media-accreditation instructions and an indicative calendar running to June 2026, giving travel managers an early view of peak demand periods for accommodation, ground transport and venue security. For non-EU journalists and contractors, the release confirms that short-stay visas will be processed under existing Cypriot rules until the country formally joins Schengen, meaning separate 90-day counters still apply.
To simplify those visa formalities, organisers can lean on VisaHQ’s digital platform, which offers real-time requirement checks, document pre-screening and concierge handling for Cyprus visa applications—all on a single dashboard. The service speeds up approvals for media crews, exhibitors and support staff alike; more information is available at https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/
Local authorities are coordinating with Hermes Airports to add temporary immigration booths and fast-track lanes for holder of EU Council badges. Mobility providers should expect sporadic road closures around the Filoxenia Conference Centre and newly designated motorcade routes to coastal hotels.
For multinational companies the meetings offer networking opportunities with regulators but also raise compliance tasks: staff attending side events must lodge ‘beneficial-owner’ disclosures with the presidency’s transparency register, and customs formalities apply to exhibition material arriving via the island’s two international ports.
Travel buyers are advised to lock in group allocations early; a similar presidency surge in 2012 saw Nicosia hotel prices jump 48 % over baseline.
